The World Today

The Archbishop of Brisbane Mark Coleridge has told the child sexual abuse Royal Commission that he doesn't know how many of the priests in his diocese are celibate and he has no right to ask them. Archbishop Coleridge rejected the suggestion that his attitude highlights a failure of the Church in managing its priests.

Was Donald Trump exceeding his authority in imposing the travel ban ? The US Federal Appeals Court has heard arguments on whether to restore the travel ban, which had been put into limbo by a state court last week. The judges are deciding if the President has exceeded his authority in imposing the measure.

New tensions between the US and Iran have unleashed a sudden war of words between Donald Trump and Iran's Supreme Leader, the Ayatollah Khomeini. Eighteen months ago the US was celebrating a landmark agreement to rein in Iran's nuclear program and remove many of the harsh sanctions that have isolated it in recent decades. But now all that could be in jeopardy

A global report out today says billions of dollars are wasted on infrastructure projects because of bad planning, bureaucracy and the failure to retain good staff. The US-based Project Management Institute says Australia fares worst than the global average with $108 million wasted for every billion dollars spent on infrastructure. The PMI's chief executive Mark Langely is visiting Australia where he spoke to the ABC's Peter Ryan.

In an Australian first, private investors will be sought to help tackle homelessness in South Australia, through a new scheme. The State Government will issue bonds worth $9 million, with financial returns paid out, if shelters see a fall in demand for their services. But some warn while it's a good idea, it's not a silver bullet to solve the nations homeless and housing affordability crisis.

Australia could soon have its first independent rural health commissioner. The Federal Assistant Minister for Health will introduce legislation into parliament, in what will be the first steps to turn the new office into a reality. The Commissioner will provide advice to government on ways to improve rural and regional healthcare. Rural health groups have welcomed the announcement saying the lives of regional Australians will benefit from the stronger focus.

Cory Bernardi has just announced that he's leaving the Liberal Party. He made a statement to the Senate. Our political reporter Julia Holman joins us from Parliament House.

He's threatened to leave for months, but now he has announced his resignation from the Liberal Party when the Senate. His Liberal colleagues were trying to convince the outspoken South Australian Senator to stay, but now the gloves are off and senior Liberals are openly attacking the defector.

Cory Berardi's defection from Liberal Party is a betrayal of the people who supported him, former Liberal party leader John Hewson told The World Today. Mr Hewson said Senator Cory Bernardi was elected under the Liberal brand, on the Liberal finances and he made a commitment to serve. Mr Hewson said Mr Bernardi was trying to trade on the 'Trump, Brexit and Hanson atmosphere' but that he underestimates the difficulty of forming a new party and getting the right candidates.

Speculation about Cory Bernardi's split from the Coalition has set tongues wagging in his home state. There's talk that Bernardi could prove a threat at the South Australian election in March if he were to start his own party, while another Liberal defector has come out in support of the Senator, saying the party has lost its way at a federal and state level.